Orlando Merced was a professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues for over a decade. He was born in Puerto Rico in 1966 and was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent in 1985.
Merced made his Major League debut in 1990 and quickly established himself as a versatile player who could play multiple positions. He spent most of his career as a first baseman and outfielder, but also played some third base and catcher.
Merced was known for his solid hitting and was a consistent contributor to the Pirates' offense throughout the early 1990s. He had his best season in 1991, when he hit .275 with 13 home runs and 74 RBI. He also played a key role in the Pirates' playoff run that year, hitting .333 in the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves.
Merced continued to be a productive player for the Pirates over the next few years, but his production began to decline in the late 1990s. He was traded to the Minnesota Twins in 1998 and spent the next few seasons bouncing around between several different teams.
Merced's career came to an end in 2003, when he played his final season with the Houston Astros. He finished his career with a .277 batting average, 71 home runs, and 404 RBI.
While Merced was never a superstar player, he was a solid contributor to several different teams over the course of his career. He was known for his versatility and his ability to play multiple positions, which made him a valuable asset to any team he played for.
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